Is learning German difficult? How long does it take to achieve a certificate B1

Is German difficult?How long does it take to learn B1 German? These are questions that many young people wonder about when learning about German vocational study abroad program, because German is ranked in the top 3 most difficult languages to learn in the world. However, whether German is easy to learn or not depends largely on the ability and learning goals of each individual. To answer questions and have a more general view of learning German for beginners, let's SHD Academy Find out more details in the article below!

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Learn about German language levels 

German is divided into six different levels, from basic to advanced, with increasing difficulty and study time, as follows:

Source: SHD Academy

Note: The above table is for reference only. Actual study time may vary depending on individual ability and learning method.

German A1 

With German level A1, students will be equipped with a basic communication foundation to handle familiar everyday situations. This is the right level for those looking for a German course for beginners. The learning content includes familiar topics such as family, shopping, travel, etc. At this time, students will learn how to introduce themselves and others, along with basic information about their place of residence and hobbies.

The expected study time is 10 – 12 weeks to achieve this level.

German A2

At level A2, students can understand common expressions related to themselves such as personal information, family, shopping, work, etc. Communication skills are improved, helping you to be flexible in basic everyday situations. 

To complete this level, the expected study time is 10 – 12 weeks.

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German B1

German level B1 requires students to develop the ability to use the language flexibly and proactively. At this stage, students can grasp the main ideas in information related to work, school, entertainment, etc. At the same time, students can confidently maintain conversations and logical arguments on familiar topics. In addition, students can also recount and express personal opinions clearly. Achieving German level B1 not only helps students communicate easily in everyday situations but also opens up opportunities for students to participate in study abroad and vocational training programs in Germany.

So, is it difficult to get a B1 German certificate and how long does it take to get it? In fact, if you have a clear learning path and practice diligently, getting a B1 German certificate is completely possible. Normally, it takes 12 to 14.5 weeks to reach level B1, equivalent to 69 - 73 lessons.

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German B2

Students will be equipped with a deep vocabulary on specialized topics, from which they can clearly understand the content of complex texts and professional discussions. After completing the program, students will also be able to communicate fluently with native speakers in real-life communication situations, meeting the needs of study and work.

To achieve this level, students need about 9 months, equivalent to 162 hours of study, from level B1 to B2.

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German C1

At level C1, students will be able to use language flexibly and spontaneously in essays and research, expressing ideas clearly without spending much time thinking. 

To achieve this level, learners need to spend 24 to 30 months, equivalent to 400 to 500 hours of study.

German C2

People with a C2 level of German can use the language fluently, understand and express ideas like native speakers in both spoken and written language. They can read, analyze and understand specialized texts, literature or complex documents without difficulty.

To reach this level, students need to invest a lot of time and effort. The amount of time depends on the ability and learning method of each student. On average, students can spend 24-30 months learning German, including self-study time, attending classes and practical practice.

>> Reference: German language certificates you need to know when studying vocational training in Germany 

Is learning German difficult? 

“Is learning German difficult?” is a question that many people who intend to learn German or study abroad in Germany wonder about. Although German is considered a difficult language to learn, you can still conquer it with your diligence and determination. As our ancestors taught us, “Diligence makes up for lack of intelligence”, as long as you are determined and have the right learning method, you will achieve your goals.

German uses the Alphabet

When starting to learn a new language, the first thing to do is to master the alphabet of that language. German alphabet There are 30 characters, including 26 letters like English and 4 special characters “ä, ü, ö, ß”. A big advantage when learning German is that the pronunciation of this language is closer to Vietnamese than English, helping learners to access and pronounce more accurately.

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Written the same as pronounced

One of the highlights of learning German is that the spelling and pronunciation have certain similarities. Specifically, students can notice that many vowels in German are written similarly to those in Vietnamese, but the pronunciation is clearly different. For example, the vowel “e” in German is pronounced “ê” and “o” is pronounced “ô”. 

However, the big challenge that German learners face is the number reading rule. In German, when reading tens, people usually read the units first. For example, the number 23 is read as “dreiundzwanzig”, while when written, the number two comes before the number three. Therefore, learners need to pay attention and get used to this different arrangement.

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German grammar is quite complicated.

Because the grammar is quite complicated, learning German for beginners is somewhat difficult. Specifically, students need to distinguish the following word forms:

• Noun: Nouns have three genders: masculine (der- Maskulinum), feminine (die – Femininum) and neuter (das– Neutrum). Identifying the correct gender will help students learn how to use articles and adjectives. Nouns can be combined to form long words with complex meanings and all nouns are capitalized.
• Verb: German verbs have many rules for conjugation according to person and tense, with some verbs being specific to people or animals, such as “essen” (to eat) for people and “fressen” for animals.
• Adjective: Adjectives usually come before nouns and change according to number and gender, as well as the case of the noun they modify. 
• Sentence components: German sentence structure can contain many components, creating long and confusing sentences if the learner does not have a solid knowledge of grammar.

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Rich and easy to find documents

If students are wondering whether German is easy to learn, the answer is yes. HAVE and you can practice at home. Currently, there are many websites and applications that provide a rich repository of documents, suitable for many different levels of learners. Besides, listening to music, reading newspapers and watching videos in German are also effective methods to help learners get acquainted and adapt to this language.

In case you have not found a suitable learning method, let SHD Education accompany you. SHD Education – German language training center in the SHD ecosystem providing high quality training courses along with German learning roadmap designed specifically for each individual. With a team of native teachers with over 30 years of experience and applying the international curriculum Netzwerk Neu with programs EXPRESS and FAST SALE, helping students achieve their language goals effectively and quickly.

German language center SHD Education not only focuses on language teaching but also organizes many cultural activities to help students gain a deeper understanding of German culture. Clubs such as German, sports and music clubs, etc. are organized to create opportunities for students to exchange, learn and practice communication and behavioral skills. 

If you are still wondering whether German is difficult to learn, in addition to the A1 learning process, SHD Academy also organizes career orientation sessions to advise students on study and career orientation and support Visa interview training right from A2 level, helping students to be more confident when applying. Apply for a German vocational study visaIn particular, at the end of the B1 course, students will have the opportunity to participate in direct interviews with partners, improve communication skills and have the opportunity to sign a labor contract in Germany.

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German learning experience for beginners

Learning German is not difficult depending on choosing the right learning method. Here are 5 German learning experience effective for beginners:

• Learn vocabulary by topic: Divide vocabulary into topics such as family, work, hobbies, etc. This helps students remember longer and easily apply in practice.
• Use German learning apps: You can take advantage of apps like Duolingo, Memrise, and Babbel to learn vocabulary, reinforce grammar, and practice pronunciation.
• Learn through movies and songs: Watching movies or listening to music in German not only improves listening skills but also helps learners get used to the natural expressions of native speakers. 
• Make a habit of studying every day: Spend 15-30 minutes every day reviewing knowledge and maintaining a regular practice habit will help you consolidate knowledge and increase your ability to remember longer.
• Make German friends: Practicing real-life communication with native speakers will help you become more confident in using the language. At the same time, regularly chatting with native speakers will also help you learn how to use words naturally, better understand idioms, everyday expressions and even German communication culture.

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Learn German at the prestigious SHD Education center 

With over 6 years of experience in German language training, SHD Education has supported more than 3900 students to access this language with more than 73% students achieving TELC certificate after only 1 exam. The center is committed to providing students with opportunities to learn German, explore culture and lifestyle in Germany through quality training programs. Below are the outstanding advantages when choosing to study German at SHD Education:

• Lean and effective roadmap: Students are supported with free entrance tests, helping to determine a suitable learning path. With intensive and semi-intensive courses, students can achieve TELC B1 certificate in just 9 months, saving time while still ensuring quality.
• Netzwerk New international standard curriculum: The Netzwerk New curriculum offers a wide range of topics, from everyday life to professional fields, helping students easily approach and conquer the TELC certificate according to their personal goals.
• Personalized Learning: Focus on exploiting the needs and receptive abilities of each student, ensuring that each person has access to content appropriate to their level.
• Experienced teaching staff: Students interact directly with Vietnamese teachers and native teachers with more than 30 years of teaching experience, ensuring exam preparation and TELC certification according to the goals set by students.

In addition, SHD Education will encourage students' spirit by awarding prizes to students who achieve excellent results in the final assessment exams. In particular, students who pass the B1 certificate on the first attempt will receive a scholarship worth 500 Euro (equivalent to 13 million VND).

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Some frequently asked questions about German

How difficult is German language in the world?

German is considered the third most difficult language in the world, after Japanese and Russian. However, the difficulty depends on the learning purpose and language background of each person.

How long does it take to learn German from B1 to B2?

Normally, to learn from B1 to B2 level of German, you need about 162 hours of study. The specific time may vary depending on individual ability and learning method.

Thus, the question “Learning Is German difficult??” has been SHD Academy detailed answers through the analysis and experience shared in the article above. If you are ready to start your journey to explore this language, come to Shd EducationWith a professional learning environment, clear roadmap and dedicated support, SHD Education will accompany you and help you achieve your goals and be confident with your German language proficiency.